The Sun, The Boy, and His Shadow

There once was a boy called Jack who loved the sun. For on the days that the sun shone, Jack could find his shadow and chase it. When the sun was shining, Jack and his shadow spent the day laughing, and talking, and chasing, and laying the grass soaking up the heat. At the same time, his father and brothers labored in the field, sweating and praying for rain.

One year, Jack's father and brothers spent more time praying for rain than harvesting their crops, for there had been a great draught. The ground was hard and dry, no plants prospered on their land, and their cattle died young. Jack's family was hungry and tired, but Jack barely noticed his hunger pains, for he cast his eyes towards the sky where the sun shone.

One day, when the sun's rays were scorching, and the ground below was parched, Jack's father, who was called Reuben, became desperate. Now you can have your principles, but hunger has a way of moving people. Reuben longed for rest and satisfaction, and ease. It's not easy to say whether or not you would have done the same in his place.

So Reuben went out to the dry field where he found the youngest of his sons playing in the sun's light. Reuben took his son's hand in his own and gently began to walk. And so Reuben and Jack walked. And they walked. And they walked. And they walked. They walked for a very long time, and it seemed to Jack that he and his father might never stop walking. Reuben said nothing the whole time but merely looked straight ahead and led his son onward.

Up ahead, Jack could see a small city on the horizon. As they drew nearer, the light buzz of chatter became a loud crackle as they entered the hustle and bustle of the busy city. There stood a stage in the main street, but Jack couldn't see who stood there over the large crowd gathered below. Still holding Jack's hand, Reuben walked to the side of the stage where he and a short man spoke in hushed tones. The man handed Reuben 20 silver coins, and Reuben passed the man his son's hand.

Reuben turned on his son without a word as the rain began falling and walked from the city without turning to look back at Jack. Jack called out for his father, reaching out to him and watching as he disappeared into the crowd. The short man held Jack by the arm and raised him onto the stage. There Jack stood, shackled and bound, in front of the crowd shouting below. It all seemed so quick to Jack, and before long, he was handed over to a strange man- who had offered 20 silver coins for him- and brought it to a vineyard outside the city.

The strange man sat Jack at a table and told him to count the wages for his laborers. Each worker should receive five silver coins for their salaries and no more. But Jack had never learned math and couldn't count. Thus, he could not complete the task the strange man asked of him.

Deeming him useless, the strange man brought Jack back into the city where he sold Jack once more for 20 silver coins, this time to a woman who wore all black. The woman in black brought Jack to her home in the country. She had a small field behind her house, but she was an elderly woman without a husband and needed a young boy who could tend to the hard labors her field and flock required. Jack worked hard, but he was frail and slow and not fit for heavy chores. Thus, he could not complete the task the women in black asked of him.

Deeming I'm hopeless, the woman in black brought Jack back into the city where he was sold for 20 silver coins to a man whose eyes were glazed. The man led Jack back into his house on the edge of the city and asked him to write a letter to his son, for the man was blind and could not do it for himself. But Jack was not well educated, and he never learned to read or write. Thus, he could not complete the task the blind man asked of him.

Deeming him worthless, the blind man brought Jack back into the city. For the fourth time, Jack found himself standing in front of the shouting crowd, waiting to be pushed into the hands of another stranger who would ask of him a task he could not complete.

Jack hadn't thought about the sun for a long time. It seemed like years since he and his shadow sat in the warmth and spent the day in play. Jack closed his eyes, zoning out the crowd's noise, and tried to remember the way the sun's heat felt on his skin. He longed to see the sun again, but as he opened his eyes, it reminded Jack of the darkness that had been cast on him.

News had spread that Jack was not good for laboring. That he could not read or count or write. Jack felt embarrassed as he looked at the crowd of people. Nobody cast any bids; nobody wanted him. It was true what they said: that he was useless, hopeless, worthless. What would become of him now, now that there wasn't a person in the world who wanted him?

Tears fell from Jack's eyes like a song as a man with yellow hair walked silently towards the stage where Jack stood. The yellowed haired man gave Jack a small smile as he offered 100 silver coins to bring Jack home with him. Jack couldn't comprehend it. No one had ever paid so much for him. Could this be true or only a dream? Yes, perhaps Jack would open his eyes soon and find himself standing in front of the noisy crowd once more. The yellowed haired man was only his imagination, a figment of desire.

Then the yellow-haired man reached out his hand and called Jack by name. He didn't know why, but Jack didn't feel afraid. He felt an overwhelming peace wash over him; he felt like he could catch the sky. Gently, the yellow-haired man led Jack out of the city and onto a wide road. Jack couldn't see where the road would lead them, but he continued forward without a doubt that it would be somewhere safe.

After a long while, the man with yellow hair turned to Jack, saying, "There once was a boy called Jack, who loved the sun. And there once was a Sun, who loved the boy called Jack. The sun spent many days watching the boy and his shadow play in the light he provided them, until one day, the boy forgot about the sun." Jack stared up at the yellow-haired man and pondered this. Then the man continues, "but the Sun did not forget about the boy."

Jack looked down at his feet and thought about the time he had spent since his father first brought him into the loud city. How dark it felt during that time. "But if the Sun never forgot me," Jack asked, "why has it been so long since I've seen him? Why has he left me?"

"Oh. No, Jack," replied the yellow-haired man, "The Sun did not leave you Jack; he was always there. You merely forgot to look up at his light when things felt dark." The yellow-haired man and Jack walked in silence, hand in hand, while Jack pondered this. Had he honestly forgotten? If he had only chosen to, could he have been enjoying his days in the sun all this time?

The yellow-haired man spoke for the final time. "Jack," he said, "do not believe those who call you worthless. Believe the sun; he calls you priceless, worthy, beloved. Remember me, Jack, as I have remembered you." Then, turning to Jack with a smile, he faded away in a ray of light that traveled up to the sky and filled the world. Though Jack now stood alone, he didn't feel lonely; the yellow-haired man had not indeed left him.

And so, the sun followed the boy and his shadow, as Jack continued down the broad road a free boy.